August 30, 2013

A sting operation in Roseville targeting unlicensed contractors has resulted in eight arrests.

The undercover operation was conducted Tuesday at a home near Maidu Regional Park with members of the Contractors State License Board's Statewide Investigative Fraud Team posing as homeowners. They were assisted by the Roseville Police Department and the Amador County District Attorney's Office, whose investigators are part of a multiagency workers' compensation unit.

The operation netted not only phony contractors, but also a number of legitimate contractors who, despite having state contractor's licenses, were violating various aspects of the state's contractor's license law, according to a Contractors State License Board news release. Violations by the licensed contractors included using a business name not listed with the state license board, failing to include their license number in advertisements, and submitting a bid for work outside the job classification. In one case, officials said, a licensed electrician submitted a bid for painting.

The licensees caught in the sting face possible administrative citations.

The eight unlicensed suspects received notices to appear in court to face misdemeanor charges involving contracting without a state license and illegal advertising, officials said. Only state licensed contractors may accept projects totaling $500 or more in combined labor and material costs. State law also requires that unlicensed operators state in all forms of advertising that they aren't licensed.

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Sacto 9-1-1 Q&A

Bee reporters answer questions about area crime news, trends and other issues. QUESTION: A couple of years ago, a Sacramento tax attorney named Roni Deutch was the target of an investigation by the California Department of Justice. She was accused of bilking clients out of millions and defying a court (Read More)